"Toshikoshi Soba" or End of Year Noodles

Are you ready to welcome the new year and say goodbye to the old one? Then say hello to a healthy version of Toshikoshi Ramen. In Japan, New Year's Day is the most important holiday of the year, just like Christmas in the West. While New Year's Day brings parties and much hoopla, New Year's Eve is customarily spent quietly at home with friends and family -- a time to reflect on the old year. The traditional meal to have while waiting to greet the new year is toshikoshi soba. Start the new year eating right with our healthier version of ramen below, made with shirataki noodles to cut calories, fat, and carbs dramatically.  Yoi otoshi o!  --- よいお年を!Wishing you a happy new year!

Japanese Ramen with Shirataki Noodles
Created by Chef Andy Matsuda of Sushi Chef Institute
Ingredients
  • 1 8 oz package Skinny Noodles Spaghetti
  • 2 C vegetable broth or chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup plain soy milk
  • 2 Tbsp miso
  • 1-1/2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp chili oil
Toppings
  • 1-2 stalks baby bok choy cabbage
  • 3-4 medium raw shrimp (deveined)
  • 1 Tbsp green onion, finely chopped
  • 2 oz bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced
Optional Toppings
  • Fried garlic
  • 1 soft boiled egg, sliced in half
Drain and rinse Skinny Noodles according to package instructions. If desired, try our Vinegar Tip: Toss noodles in bowl, add 1-2 teaspoons of vinegar, set aside 1-2 minutes (vinegar will neutralize the alkaline smell), then rinse and drain noodles well again. Add noodles and next 6 soup ingredients in a medium saucepan, mix well, and heat until bubbly. Reduce heat to keep warm. Pan fry topping ingredients in a lightly greased pan. Cook until shrimp is pink and done. Transfer Skinny Noodles and soup to 2 deep, medium-sized bowls. Add toppings and serve hot.

Per Serving with vegetable broth (without optional ingredients): 169 calories, 11g fat, 11g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 8g protein. Glycemic Load: 5. Weight Watchers PPV: 5
Per Serving with 1/2 soft boiled egg, add 39 calories, 0g carbs, 3g protein.

Visit us at www.getskinnynoodles.com to learn more about shirataki noodles, get cooking tips, and explore all of our shirataki noodles recipes!

Chef Andy Matsuda Shares Healthy Shirataki Noodles Recipes

Sushi has come a long way since its first days in America, right after World War II. Since the mid 1970's when the chef at Tokyo Kaikan restaurant in Los Angeles invented the California Roll, the number of sushi restaurants in the USA has increased sharply, quintupling from 1988 to 1998 and still growing. While munching on your spicy tuna roll, have you ever wondered who trains those skilled chefs behind the sushi bar?

Chef Andy Matsuda, with over 35 years of cooking experience and 15 years of teaching experience, has trained more than 12,000 students from the US and over 30 other countries in the art of sushi making. Affiliated with the prestigious French culinary school, Le Cordon Blue, the Culinary Institute of America at Napa, Mission College, and the Center for Culinary Arts of Manila, Chef Andy is the owner and lead instructor at the Sushi Chef Institute in Torrance, California.  “My mission is to educate students and members of the public who have a passion for sushi, traditional Japanese cuisine, and Japanese culture in general.” As part of his formal instruction and many public appearances (including many at the Los Angeles County Public Libaries, Japanese community and cultural events), Chef Andy has introduced traditional, healthy Japanese ingredients including shirataki noodles to many.

Chef Andy is proud to share two tasty, healthy recipes made with shirataki noodles. His Edamame Salad uses classic Japanese ingredients, while his Cabbage Rolls recipe is a lighter version of the traditional Eastern European dish made with lean ground turkey and shirataki "rice." Bon Appetit -- or as they say in Japan, "Dōzo omeshiagarikudasai"! 


Edamame Salad
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
  • ½ head lettuce, shredded
  • ½ package Skinny Noodles Spaghetti
  • ½ half medium cucumber, julienned
  • ¼ C red onion, thinly sliced
  • 6 petite or grape tomatoes
  • ¼ C cooked and shelled edamame beans
  • 2 green onions, sliced
Dressing:
  • ½ C rice vinegar
  • ½ C vegetable oil
  • ½ C honey
  • ⅓ C soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tsp grated garlic
Directions: 
Toss all salad ingredients and set aside. Mix together all dressing ingredients. Pour desired amount on salad mix and toss well. Refrigerate unused portion of dressing to use at later date.


Cabbage Rolls with Shirataki Rice
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
  • 8 large cabbage leaves
  • 1 package Skinny “Rice” Shirataki
  • 6 oz ground turkey
  • ½ onion, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 C chicken or vegetable broth
  • 4 C tomato sauce
Directions:
Boil cabbage until soft being careful not to overcook. Remove from water and set aside. Rinse well and drain Skinny Rice and set aside. Mix together turkey, onion, Skinny Rice, and seasonings. Divide the mixture into 8 equal round portions and wrap each with the cabbage leaves. Mix the broth and tomato sauce in a bowl and set aside. Place the rolls in a large saucepan, seam-side down, and cover with the broth mixture. Cook on medium-low heat and simmer for 1 hour. Garnish with asparagus if desired and serve hot.

Per Serving (2 rolls): 146 calories, 4g fat, 33mg cholesterol, 20g carbohydrates, 6g fiber, 12g protein (WW Points Plus: 4)

Also try Chef Andy's Hearty Carrot Soup recipe with less than 120 calories per serving and only 3 Weight Watchers PPV.  Learn more about Chef Andy at www.sushischool.net.

Visit us at getskinnynoodles.com to learn more about Skinny Noodles Shirataki, get cooking tips, and explore all of our shirataki noodles recipes!

Mini Skinny Whoopie Pies

Do you remember the days when Santa didn't arrive until after Thanksgiving? Today, Christmas shopping starts with a jolt the day after Halloween. Along with the earlier arrival of all those Christmas decorations comes an increased level of stress especially if you live with a restricted diet -- whether it be gluten-free, diabetic, paleo, for weight loss or any other health reason. If you want a little splurge this holiday season without going overboard, we have a nice surprise.

For this month’s featured recipe we chose our Mini Skinny Whoopie Pies because they are sweet and festive while still light enough for anyone counting calories. With just 28 calories and 3 grams of carbs, these lovely little whoopies pies are made with two of our gluten-free Skinny Chocolate Cookies. Believe it or not, the secret ingredient is shirataki noodles which allow you to make a delightful treat without wheat flour, extra carbs, calories, or fat.

Easy to make, these bite-sized pastries will have you relaxed and enjoying the holidays guilt-free in no time. Serve each with a mini candy cane on the side, you'll add just 13 calories and 4 grams of carbs. Healthy Holidays!

Mini Skinny Whoopie Pies
Makes 6 mini whoopie pies

Ingredients:
  • 1 – 8 oz. package Skinny Noodles Shirataki Spaghetti
  • 2 medium egg whites
  • 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp Splenda for Baking (honey or Stevia can be substituted)
  • 1 dash salt
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • 6 Tbsp Sugar-Free Cool Whip
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Open and rinse Skinny Noodles thoroughly with warm water in a strainer. Drain well. In a large dry frying pan, cook Skinny Noodles on high heat. Stir frequently. As Skinny Noodles begin to dry, they will "squeak," losing some transparency and shriveling a bit. Remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes. Place dry, cooked Skinny Noodles in food processor and process for 2 minutes, or until noodles look similar to gel. Add rest of ingredients. Process until well blended. Refrigerate mixture for 45-60 minutes. Cover cookie sheet with tin foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls on to cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Let cool. Place 1 tablespoon of sugar-free Cool Whip between 2 cookies and serve.

Per whoopie pie: 28 calories, 0.5g fat, 3g carbohydrates, 0.5g fiber, 1g protein, 0mg cholesterol, 45mg sodium
Adapted from a recipe by mitochondrialdepletionsyndrome.blogspot.com

Visit us at www.getskinnynoodles.com to learn more about shirataki noodles, get cooking tips, and explore all of our shirataki noodles recipes!